Amending the California Public Records Act

The California Public Records Act, first enacted in 1968, provides broad access for the public to government records, including correspondence, budget documents and data.

Two years ago, the Commission on State Mandates ruled that local governments could seek reimbursements from the state for complying with some provisions of the act. This is projected to give cities, counties and special districts the ability to bill Sacramento for tens of millions of dollars, although the commission has not yet determined what the actual reimbursable rates would be.

After Gov. Jerry Brown initially proposed suspending the Public Record Act provisions eligible for reimbursement, the Legislature passed SB 71 last week, which actually amends the act to make provisions optional “best practices.” That would eliminate costs from the mandate but also make certain provisions of the Public Records Act voluntary “best practices.” Public information advocates are now urging the governor to veto the bill.

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